Every August, thousands of Canadians look up, hoping to catch one of nature’s most reliable sky shows: the Perseid meteor shower.
This year, astronomers say conditions around August 12-13, when meteor shower activity is at its peak, are especially favourable, making it easier to spot even the fainter meteors that go unnoticed.
Unlike a one-time celestial event, the Perseids return every year, producing dozens of shooting stars an hour under dark skies. But what makes this meteor shower so dependable, and why is this year expected to be particularly impressive?
Why the Perseids happen every year
The Perseids are created by debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle, a comet that periodically travels around the sun.
“The Perseid meteor showers is the most prolific meteor shower of the year,” said Ethan Sun, a graduate student in astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Toronto, in an interview with CTVNews.ca.
“It happens when the Earth runs through a trail of debris that was left behind by Comet Swift Tuttle, and every year the Earth crosses through that spot in its orbit and runs into this cloud of things that fall into the atmosphere and cause meteors.”
Those tiny pieces of rock and dust burn up as they enter Earth’s atmosphere, creating the bright streaks of light commonly known as shooting stars.
The display only lasts for a limited time because Earth quickly moves through the stream of debris before continuing along its orbit around the sun.
Why this year’s viewing conditions stand out
Astronomers say 2026 offers one major advantage over recent years: the moon.
“This year will be a particularly good year, because the moon is going to be new, so you’ll have no interference from moonlight whatsoever,” Sun said.
He said moonlight can wash out dimmer meteors, making it seem as though fewer are appearing even when the shower remains active.
During the peak, people watching from dark rural locations could see dozens of meteors each hour under clear skies.
Why the Perseids are popular
The Perseids have long been considered one of the year’s favourite meteor showers for a simple reason: they’re both reliable and comfortable to watch.
“It’s popular because of the consistency and how prolific it is in terms of the number of meteors that it produces,”. “Also because it falls in the middle of summer, and it’s a lot more comfortable to stargaze, in August than it is in December in a lot of Canada,” he added.
How to get the best view
Canadians do not need telescopes or binoculars to enjoy the Perseids.
“You just want to have a clear view of the sky and you want to get away from light pollution,” Sun said.
He recommended giving the eyes time to adjust to the darkness, settling into a comfortable chair or lying on the ground and watching patiently.
One common mistake is looking directly toward the shower’s radiant, the point in the sky where the meteors appear to originate.
“If you try too hard, you’ll miss some,” Sun said. “You pick a spot on the sky that’s not right at where they’re coming from, and just watch and you’ll see them streak by.”
With dark skies expected during this year’s peak, Canadians willing to escape city lights may be rewarded with one of the year’s most spectacular celestial displays.
